Drain for plumbing fixtures

ABSTRACT

Covers a drain structure for a plumbing fixture such as a lavatory. The drain structure includes a cylindrical metallic liner having its internal wall and most of its external wall covered by a plastic material. The uncovered portion of the metallic liner may be threaded so as to receive a threaded nut for affixing the drain mechanism to the basin of the plumbing fixture.

United tates Patent Haldopoulos et al.

[54] DRAIN FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES [72] Inventors: loakim Haldopoulos; James Edward Niemann, both of Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: American Standard Inc., New York,

221 Filed: Dec.l1, 1969 21 App1.No.:884,102

52 U.S.Cl. ..4/191 51 int Cl ..E03c 1/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..4/166,173,189,191,197,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,316,724 4/1943 Sperry ..285/38 2,858,989 11/1958 Jordan ..241/100.5

3,045,254 7/1962 Cook et a1. ..4/l73 1 Aug. 1, 1972 3,069,697 12/1962 Brucken et al ..4/287 3,281,869 1 1/1966 Schweigaard-Olsen et a1 ..4/288 3,307,206 3/1967 Kreuger ..4/199 3,411,628 11/1968 Mason ..210/163 3,509,587 5/1970 Fins ..4/288 Primary Examiner--Laverne D. Geiger Assistant ExaminerDonald R. Massenberg Att0rney-Jefferson Ehrlich, Tennes l. Erstad and Robert G. Crooks [57] ABSTRACT Covers a drain structure for a plumbing fixture such as a lavatory. The drain structure includes a cylindrical metallic liner having its internal wall and most of its external wall covered by a plastic material. The uncovered portion of the metallic liner may be threaded so as to receive a threaded nut for affixing the drain mechanism to the basin of the plumbing fixture.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PA'TENTEDws 1 I972 SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR. loikKlM HALDOPOULOJ BY JRMss PNIE-MANN ATTORNEY DRAIN FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES This invention relates to improved and reinforced drains for plumbing fixtures such as lavatories, bathtubs or the like. More particularly, this invention relates to drains which are made of plastic materials and are reinforced by metal which is completely separated from the liquid flow path of the drains.

The conventional drain of a lavatory or bathtub or like plumbing fixture is generally made of metal, such as plated brass or stainless steel. The conventional plumbing fixture is designed and intended to allow water and other fluids, whatever their chemical and physical composition, to be discharged through the drain, then through its tailpipe, and finally through the main exhaust pipe into the sewer system. It is well known, however, that the metallic drain or the metallic tailpipe of the conventional plumbing fixture is often caked by corrosive or other foreign materials which accumulate on the inner wall of the drain channel. Such foreign materials may have physical or chemical properties which make them suitable for adherence to the tailpipe inner wall and other parts of the flow path or the drain. In many cases, the metallic structure is corroded due to the chemical and physical action arising, not only on account of the solid materials accumulating on the inner wall of the drain and its tailpipe, but also by fluids having destructive properties as they traverse the metallic mechanism. Such caking and corrosion also reduce the transmission efficiency of the drain mechanism and, moreover, if caking or corrosion is present and continues long enough or extends deeply enough, apertures or other undesirable slits or openings may be developed in the wall of the drain structure so that the structure will leak and require repair or replacement by a plumber. Because the conventional drain and tailpipe combination of a lavatory or bathtub are permanently affixed to the plumbing fixture, these parts are not readily accessible to the home owner, and hence even the home owner who is somewhat skilled in the use of tools will usually call for a plumber as soon as the drain structure develops a leak and the plumber is required to repair or replace the defective mechanism. Although the cost of the drain parts may not be large, the service charges of the plumber who is called to repair or remove and replace the old drain structure are very considerable.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a drain mechanism which has only smooth plastic materials exposed to the liquids and semisolids which are expected to traverse the drain mechanism but unexposed parts of the drain mechanism will be metallic for reinforcement of the drain structure.

Another of the objects of this invention is to provide a drain mechanism which is made of plastic material but is reinforced by metallic material which is, in large part, sandwiched between surfaces of plastic material, the plastic material being the only material which is exposed to the liquids and semi-solids which traverse the drain mechanism.

Still another of the objects of this invention is to provide a drain mechanism made of plastic material which is also reinforced by metallic material, in which the plastic material is the only material on the inner wall of the drain mechanism to provide a smooth surface exposed to liquids and solids which traverse the drain mechanism, but the metallic material will form the external threaded part of the drain mechanism and is used for establishing the physical connections between the drain mechanism and the rest of the lavatory or bathtub or other plumbing fixture.

This invention will be better understood from the more detailed description hereinafter following when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the center of the drain opening of a plumbing fixture such as a lavatory, only part of the plumbing fixture being shown in the Figure;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the principal drain mechanism per se FIG. 2a shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the upper flange of the plumbing fixture,

FIG. 3 shows a front elevational view of a part of the drain mechanism per se;

FIG. 4- shows a cross-sectional view of the drain mechanism taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows another front-elevational view of the drain mechanism per se taken at a different angular position of the drain mechanism; and

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the front of the metallic liner which is used to reinforce the drain mechanism, this view being taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 5.

The same or similar parts will be represented by the same or similar reference characters wherever they occur throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, and especially to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the reference character 10 designates the basin of a lavatory or a bathtub or other plumbing fixture which may be made of earthenware, chinaware or other porcelain material, or of a stainless steel material; 12 designates the drain body; 14 the drain opening in the basin 10 of the plumbing fixture into which the drain body 12 is insertable; 16 the upper outer tapered or flanged collar of the drain body 12, the upper edge of which may be flush with the adjacent surface of the basin 10 of the plumbing fixture; 18 the adjacent lower or secondary tapered collar of the drain body 12; 20 the cylindrical upper portion of the drain body 12 which is preferably made of a plastic material; 22 the tailpipe also preferably made of a plastic material; 24 the threaded segment of the metallic liner of the drain body 12; 28 the conventional overflow path of a plum bing fixture 10 such as a lavatory; 30 a nut which may preferably be made of a plastic material; 32 a flat washer which may be made of metal; and 34 a flexible tapered gasket which may be made of rubber or of any closed cell flexible polymer, such as neoprene.

When the drain I2 is inserted into the drain opening 14 in the basin 10 of a lavatory or other plumbing fixture, the threaded nut 30 may be rotated about the threaded segment 24 so that the internal threads of the nut 30 and the external threads of the metallic member 24 will be engaged to cause the nut 30 to advance toward the upper segment of the drain mechanism 12. The nut 30 will then move the washer 32 upwardly against the flexible gasket 34 so as to fasten the drain body 12 in place against the underside of the basin 10.

FIG. 2 shows the construction of the drain body 12. FIG. 6 shows the general construction of the metal liner 40 which is almost completely encased within the drain body 12. The metal liner 40 includes the threaded segment 24 for receiving the threaded nut 30 (see FIG. 1) when the drain body 12 is to be assembled into its position and held fixedly at the bottom of the basin of the lavatory, and an upper segment 36 which recedes into a pair of sloping or tapered collars 42 and 44. The metallic liner 40 of FIG. 6 is the only metallic part used in or required for the reinforcement of the drain body 12. The liner 40 is positioned or sandwiched between the inner segment 50 of the plastic material and the outer segment 52 also of plastic material. FIG. 2A shows the upper end of the metallic liner 40 encased by and between the two other segments 26 and 54.

The plastic material above-referred to may be any suitable plastic material, but it is preferably a talcum filled polypropolene material selected for its chemical resistance and rigidity. The metallic liner 40 may be made of any suitable metallic material, but it is preferably made of cadmium plated steel. The nut 30 is preferably made of Celcon plastic material so that there will be little, if any, corrosion between nut 30 and the threaded segment 24 of the metallic liner 40 upon the possible advent of a corrosive atmosphere. A nut 30 so constructed may be easily connected or separated, as desired.

In designing the metal liner 40 shown in FIG. 6, the threaded segment 24 is located on the outside of the drain body 12. In this position, i.e., external of the drain body 12, the threaded segment, as well as the rest of the metal liner 40, cannot be affected chemically or physically by the liquids or semi-solids that are transported through the center or inner wall of the drain body 12.

Our drain body structure, as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, involves an inner layer 50 of plastic material and an outer layer 52 of the same plastic material both joined together at their upper extremities and, providing between the two plastic layers, a cavity in which is positioned a metallic liner 40 completely filling the cavity. The metallic liner 40 functions as a reinforcement component for the physical structure. The smooth plastic interior wall of the inner plastic layer is non-corrosive and remains non-corrosive. The metallic liner. 40 is not positioned in the path of the flow of liquids and semi-solids through the drain port and hence hardly requires cleaning or replacement or repair. As shown in FIG. 2, also, the drawn body structure includes tier openings 60 and 62 in the cylindrical upper portion 20.

A feature of the metallic liner 40 is its threaded lower segment 24 which threadingly receives the plastic nut 30 for fastening the drain body fixedly to the basin 10 of the plumbing fixture. The exposed threaded segment 24 of the liner 40 is completely removed from the liquid flow passage and hence cannot be corroded or caked by foreign matter.

The principal advantages of the structure of this invention are:

1. Every part of the drain structure 12, including its rim 16, which is or may be exposed to fluids or semisolids, is smooth and remains smooth and is sheathed by chemically inert plastic material.

2. Every part of the drain structure 12 including its tail pipe 22, which is or may be subjected to tension or compression, or to variations in tension or compression, is reinforced by a metal insert 40, and the metal insert is a continuous structure.

3. The threaded segment 24 of the drain structure 12, which carries the load during installation and thereafter, is metallic.

4. The metallic reinforcement liner 40 is made of metal, such as steel, with an anti-corrosive finish, such as cadmium.

5. The anti-corrosive finish on liner 40 protects the structure against environmental effects, such as humidity, oxygen, etc., to which the structure may be exposed.

6. The drain structure 12 is easy to manufacture and, except for the fasteners, is a unitary device which is low in cost and simple and easily installed.

What is claimed is: I

l. A reinforced unitary drain structure for the drain opening of a plumbing fixture, comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical metallic liner the upper end of which is flared and a continuous plastic coating bonded on and covering all of the inner surface of said liner and all of both sides of the flared upper end thereof and tier means located in the cylindrical upper portion of said drain structure.

2. A reinforced unitary drain structure according to claim 1 in which the outer surface is threaded to receive a threaded holding member.

3. A reinforced unitary drain structure according to claim I in which the outer surface of the metallic liner is threaded and means including a threaded nut to engage the threaded segment of said metallic liner to hold the drain structure against the plumbing fixture.

4. A reinforced unitary drain structure according to claim 2 including a flexible gasket, and a threaded nut which engages the threaded segment of the outer surface of the metallic liner for holding the drain structure affixed to the plumbing fixture.

5. A reinforced unitary drain structure according to claim 4 having an opening through the metallic liner and its plastic coating providing an overflow path for the structure.

6. A unitary drain structure for the basin of a plumbing fixture, comprising a hollow, cylindrical, metallic member which is tapered at one end, plastic material bended on and superimposed on all of the internal surface of said member and on all of the outer surface of said metallic member except the lowermost portion of the outer surface of said metallic member, means for fastening said structure to the basin of the plumbing fixture and tier means located in the cylindrical upper portion of said drain structure.

7. A unitary drain structure according to claim 6, in which the fastening means includes a screw-threaded segment in the lowermost portion of the outer wall of said metallic member and a nut threadedly engaging said screw-threaded segment of the outer wall.

8. A unitary drain structure according to claim 6, in which the plastic material is a talcum filled polypropylene.

9. A unitary drain structure according to claim 6, in which the metallic member and its two plastic superimposed layers have a common opening therein providing an overflow path for fluid exiting through said drain structure.

10. A unitary drain structure for a plumbing fixture having a drain opening therein, comprising a hollow core sheathed in plastic material both over all of its inner wall and on the upper portion of its outer wall so as to constitute an integral and unitized cylindrical body, the lower metallic portion of said outer wall being threaded, means for threadingly engaging the lower metallic portion of the outer wall of said body so as to hold said drain structure locked against said plumbing fixture and tier means located in the cylindrical upper portion of said drain structure.

11. A unitary drain structure according to claim 10, in which the engaging means includes a plastic nut for threadingly engaging the threaded portion of the outer wall of the body to hold said drain structure against the plumbing fixture.

12. A unitary drain structure according to claim 10, in which the uppermost portion of the hollow body is flanged so as to make smooth contact with the drain opening in the plumbing fixture.

13. A unitary drain structure comprising a plumbing fixture having an opening at the base thereof, a substantially cylindrical drain body having a metallic core, the internal wall of which is fully covered by plastic material and the outer wall of which is partially covered by plastic material, the bare metallic lower portion of said outer wall being threaded, and means for threadingly engaging the threaded metallic portion of the outer wall so as to hold said drain structure rigidly against said plumbing fixture and tier means located in the cylindrical upper portion of said drain structure.

14. A unitary drain structure according to claim 13, in which the uppermost portion of said hollow body is flanged so as to make uniform and continuous contact with the drain opening in the base of said plumbing fixture.

15. A unitary drain structure according to claim 14, in which the engaging means includes a nut which is threaded so as to mesh with thethreaded portion of the v outer wall of the body so as to hold the drain structure rigidly against the plumbing fixture.

16. A unitary drain structure according to claim 15, in which the engaging means also includes a flexible gasket interposed between the nut and the base of the plumbing fixture in order to hold the drain structure continually in contact with the base of the plumbing fixture. 

1. A reinforced unitary drain structure for the drain opening of a plumbing fixture, comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical metallic liner the upper end of which is flared and a continuous plastic coating bonded on and covering all of the inner surface of said liner and all of both sides of the flared upper end thereof and tier means located in the cylindrical upper portion of said drain structure.
 2. A reinforced unitary drain structure according to claim 1 in which the outer surface is threaded to receive a threaded holding member.
 3. A reinforced unitary drain structure according to claim 1 in which the outer surface of the metallic liner is threaded and means including a threaded nut to engage the threaded segment of said metallic liner to hold the drain structure against the plumbing fixture.
 4. A reinforced unitary drain structure according to claim 2 including a flexible gasket, and a threaded nut which engages the threaded segment of the outer surface of the metallic liner for holding the drain structure affixed to the plumbing fixture.
 5. A reinforced unitary drain structure according to claim 4 having an opening through the metallic liner and its plastic coating providing an overflow path for the structure.
 6. A unitary drain structure for the basin of a plumbing fixture, comprising a hollow, cylindrical, metallic member which is tapered at one end, plastic material bended on and superimposed on all of the internal surface of said member and on all of the outer surface of said metallic member except the lowermost portion of the outer surface of said metallic member, means for fastening said structure to the basin of the plumbing fixture and tier means located in the cylindrical upper portion of said drain structure.
 7. A unitary drain structure according to claim 6, in which the fastening means includes a screw-threaded segment in the lowermost portion of the outer wall of said metallic member and a nut threadedly engaging said screw-threaded segment of the outer wall.
 8. A unitary drain structure according to claim 6, in which the plastic material is a talcum filled polypropylene.
 9. A unitary drain structure according to claim 6, in which the metallic member and its two plastic superimposed layers have a common opening therein providing an overflow path for fluid exiting through said drain structure.
 10. A unitary drain structure for a plumbing fixture having a drain opening therein, comprising a hollow cylindrical body having a hollow cylindrical metallic core sheathed in plastic material both over all of its inner wall and on the upper portion of its outer wall so as to constitute an integral and unitized cylindrical body, the lower metallic portion of said outer wall being threaded, means for threadingly engaging the lower metallic portion of the outer wall of said body so as to hold said drain structure locked against said plumbing fixture and tier means located in the cylindrical upper portion of said drain structure.
 11. A unitary drain structure according to claim 10, in which the engaging means includes a plastic nut for threadingly engaging the threaded portion of the outer wall of the body to hold said drain structure against the plumbing fixture.
 12. A unitary drain structure according to claim 10, in which the uppermost portion of the hollow body is flanged so as to make smooth contact with the drain opening in the plumbing fixture.
 13. A unitary drain structure comprising a plumbing fixture having an opening at the base thereof, a substantially cylindrical drain body having a metallic core, the internal wall of which is fully covered by plastic material and the outer wall of which is partially covered by plastic material, the bare metallic lower portion of said outer wall being threaded, and means for threadingly engaging the threaded metallic portion of the outer wall so as to hold said drain structure rigidly against said plumbing fixture and tier means located in the cylindrical upper portion of said drain structure.
 14. A unitary drain structure according to claim 13, in which the uPpermost portion of said hollow body is flanged so as to make uniform and continuous contact with the drain opening in the base of said plumbing fixture.
 15. A unitary drain structure according to claim 14, in which the engaging means includes a nut which is threaded so as to mesh with the threaded portion of the outer wall of the body so as to hold the drain structure rigidly against the plumbing fixture.
 16. A unitary drain structure according to claim 15, in which the engaging means also includes a flexible gasket interposed between the nut and the base of the plumbing fixture in order to hold the drain structure continually in contact with the base of the plumbing fixture. 